This Week in Weird, Oct. 23

A hypocritical son, “Love Spud” update, a hero newspaper carrier, a bad neighbor and more in this week’s edition.

Man with 'Family Forever' tattoo threatens to kill mother, police say

ALLIANCE, Ohio - An Alliance man sporting a tattoo that reads “Family Forever” on his side was arrested Tuesday on a domestic violence charge after a fight with his mother over a pair of earrings he bought her, Stark County Jail records said.

A woman identified in jail records as his mother told Alliance police that she and her son were arguing over the earrings when he told her, “I’m gonna kill you,” and then he left. The records said he later returned, began yelling at her and then started to choke her.

The 31-year-old man was arrested in 2002 on a misdemeanor domestic violence charge, but that charge was reduced to disorderly conduct with persistence. He was ordered to complete anger management courses, which he did by 2005 when he went to prison for six counts of felony drug possession.

2 men pick fight with the wrong guy - an off-duty officer

HANOVER, Mass. - Two men were arrested in the parking lot outside a CVS in Hanover last week after they allegedly picked a fight with an off-duty police officer.

Joshua Desrochers, 20, and Ryan Patrick Trant, 22, were charged with resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and assault and battery after getting in a scuffle with Paul Torino, a Hanover police officer.

According to Hanover Lt. Greg Nihan, Torino had just got off work about 4 p.m. on Oct. 11 when he went into the CVS dressed in plain clothes.

“When he walked into the store, he brushed shoulders with [Desrochers],” Nihan said. “The suspect had a few words with the officer, asking why he didn’t apologize for bumping into him, but the officer said he didn’t realize he had brushed shoulders with him.”

Agitated, Nihan said Desrochers began to swear at Torino and became confrontational.

“At that time, Officer Torino identified himself as a police officer and told the individual he was creating a disturbance and to leave the area,” Nihan said.

As Torino and Desrochers left the foyer of CVS, Nihan said Torino noted another individual in a blue Chevy Blazer, later identified as Ryan Trant, also swearing at him and becoming confrontational.

“When Officer Torino identified himself as a police officer, Desrochers backed away for a bit,” Nihan said. “At that point, Officer Torino approached the blue truck and identified himself as a police officer several times.”

Nihan said Torino asked both of the men to leave the area repeatedly, but neither heeded the warning.

“By this time there were bystanders in the parking lot looking on,” Nihan said. “And Desrochers started to approach Torino again in a fighting stance. Making some space between himself and the suspect, Torino pushed Desrochers away and got on his cell phone to call for backup.”

Still allegedly yelling at the officer, Nihan said Trant heard Torino’s phone call, and quickly put his vehicle into gear, striking Torino in the arm with the truck’s side mirror while driving off.

While the altercation had been taking place in the parking lot, the CVS store manager, who had exited the store to see what was happening, also called 911.

“After Torino was struck he approached the car and put his hands through the open driver’s-side window to stop the car,” Nihan said. “After a struggle, Trant continued to drive with Torino holding on, dragging about 15 feet. At that point, officer Torino let go for his safety.”

Letting go of the car, Nihan said Torino turned to see Desrochers coming toward him again with fists raised.

After blocking a punch by Desrochers, Torino took the suspect to the ground and restrained him until backup officer Andrew Braun arrived, and assisted handcuffing Desrochers.

In the meantime, Trant drove to the rear of the CVS, exited his vehicle and began approaching Torino in an aggressive state, Nihan said.

With the assistance of officer Braun, Torino took Trant to the ground and handcuffed him.

Two Hanover Police sergeants — Daniel Salvucci and John Owens Jr. — arrived and arrested the two men and took them to the Hanover Police station.

President Obama returns 'Love Spud' to original owner

INDEPENDENCE, Mo. - “The Love Spud” is back home.

After spending almost a month with President Barack Obama, the heart-shaped potato that brought Independence resident Mary Apple her 15 minutes of fame is back in her custody.

In an e-mail last Friday morning, Mary’s husband, Winston, said the couple had received a package from the White House on Thursday with the potato and a thank-you note from the president.

“Mary and I were very happy and excited to welcome the little guy home,” Winston wrote.

Mary Apple appeared on “The Late Show with David Letterman” in New York on Sept. 21. Less than five minutes after the taping of his segment began, Obama asked to see the heart-shaped potato. Apple immediately tossed it on stage to Letterman.

She had purchased the potato in a bag of red, white and blue organic potatoes at the Independence Hy-Vee in August 2007.

Winston Apple nicknamed it “The Love Spud” because several marriages – including his own to Mary – took place after its discovery.

Man charged with making harassing phone calls to neighbor

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. - A Bridgewater man has been arraigned on charges of criminal harassment and making annoying telephone calls after he allegedly called his neighbor repeatedly over the course of nine months, according to court documents.

David Barry, 42, a former Little League coach, pleaded innocent last week to the charges in Brockton District Court.

From October 2008 until June 2009, Barry “continually” called the home of neighbor Kurt Dahlgren, as well as his and his wife’s cell phone numbers, according to the court records.

“Barry would call late hours of the evening, waking up the kids, breathing on the telephone, saying my wife’s name and saying ‘die,’” said a description of the incident signed by Dahlgren.

Dahlgren said he traced the phone number to Barry, and then called police, who issued a complaint on Sept. 24. Dahlgren would not elaborate on any possible motive.

Barry was released on personal recognizance and ordered to have no contact with the victim. He has a court date set for Dec. 8.

When reached at home last week after the arraignment, Barry said he had no comment.

Newspaper carrier delivers papers — and help

MANCHESTER, N.Y. - Ann Gulick and eight friends had enjoyed a fun day in Naples earlier this month, leaving with some of the community’s signature grape pies.

But things turned when Gulick, 71, of Manchester, was dropped off at her home by her friend Margaret Vienna. Gulick fainted in her driveway.

“The next thing I knew, she was on the ground,” Vienna said of that day, Oct. 13.

Then a newspaper carrier came to their aid. Jordan Armison, 20, was delivering the afternoon Daily Messenger when he saw Gulick take a spill in the rain. He rushed over to help and — cell phone in hand — called 911.

“He was so helpful,” Vienna recalled. “He stayed there until the ambulance arrived.”

Armison had been working for the Messenger, a GateHouse Media newspaper, for just a few months.

“I would do it any other time,” Armison said. “I was just trying to be a good guy.”

Vienna said she was worried that Armison would get in trouble for reporting back to the Messenger late, so she called the company to let them know what Armison did.

“I don't know what I would have done,” Vienna said, who does not carry a cell phone with her. “He was a wonderful, sweet boy.”